Capitol rioter who was pardoned by Trump gets a life sentence for molesting 2 children in Florida

https://apnews.com/article/capito-riot-trump-pardon-child-molestation-f2690d4574a30afdec82edac04c2f4b9

A Florida handyman who was sentenced on Thursday to life in prison for molesting two children had been convicted of storming the Capitol on Jan. 6, 2021, but was pardoned by President Donald Trump.

Andrew Paul Johnson, 45, is among several Jan. 6 defendants who have been charged with new crimes since Trump’s sweeping act of clemency for Capitol rioters. On his first day back in the White House last year, Trump pardoned, commuted prison sentences or ordered the dismissal of cases for all 1,500-plus people charged in the attack.

Johnson was convicted last month of two counts of lewd or lascivious molestation of a child and one count of electronically transmitting material harmful to a minor, according to prosecutors in Hernando County, Florida. County Circuit Judge Judge Stephen Toner handed down Johnson’s life sentence.

Sheriff’s deputies began investigating the child molestation allegations against Johnson in July 2025. One of his victims told investigators that the abuse started around April 2024, several months before Johnson was sentenced for his Capitol riot conviction.

Johnson told one of his victims that he expected to be compensated for being a pardoned Jan. 6 defendant and would be putting the child in his will to inherit any leftover money, according a sheriff’s office report.

“This tactic was believed to be used to keep (the child) from exposing what Andrew had done,” the report said. Investigators found sexually explicit messages that Johnson exchanged with one of his victims on the Discord messaging app, according to Fifth Judicial Circuit State Attorney Bill Gladson’s office.

“In the messages, Johnson attempted to have the victim download another application for a more private conversation and encouraged the victim to delete their messages afterwards,” Gladson’s office said in a news release.

More at link

803 points · 65 comments · view on lemmy.world

65 Comments

tidderuuf@lemmy.world · 161 pts · 166d (10 replies)

It's almost like every one of the J6ers were deplorables or something.

Cosmonauticus@lemmy.world · 38 pts · 166d (6 replies)

Didn't expect so many child touchers

Kirp123@lemmy.world · 45 pts · 166d

Considering who Trump is?

dazzlingclitgame@lemmy.world · 35 pts · 166d (1 reply)
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notwhoyouthink@lemmy.zip · 3 pts · 166d

Yeah, these are just the people that have been caught.

Mynameisallen@lemmy.zip · 22 pts · 166d

I did

Quill7513@slrpnk.net · 10 pts · 166d

4chan has hella pedophiles and CSAM on it. QAnon was always a bunch of fake moralizing

PapaStevesy@lemmy.world · 2 pts · 166d

Then you haven't been paying attention

dhork@lemmy.world · 22 pts · 166d (1 reply)

When MAGA sends their people, they're not sending their best....

darkdemize@sh.itjust.works · 51 pts · 166d

They are actually, and it's pretty fucking sad.

Triumph@fedia.io · 12 pts · 166d

They come in baskets.

criscodisco@lemmy.world · 54 pts · 166d (3 replies)

The GOP tradition.

bender223@lemmy.today · 16 pts · 166d

The Epstein party. 😜

lechekaflan@lemmy.world · 2 pts · 166d (1 reply)

It was then the Lincoln party until the Civil Rights era, which forever turned that party into one heavily conservative.

prole@lemmy.blahaj.zone · 2 pts · 166d

People still say the, "how can Republicans be racist, we're the party that ended slavery!" or, "Democrats are the racists, they're the ones who supported slavery!"

And I just send them the wiki article for Strom Thurmond

very_well_lost@lemmy.world · 48 pts · 166d (1 reply)

Damn... it's always the ones you most suspect

D_C@sh.itjust.works · 5 pts · 166d

Yep. He'll be running for president next.

tanisnikana@lemmy.world · 29 pts · 166d (5 replies)

Why did they call him a “handyman” when the moment he did his heinous deeds, all his titles were overwritten with “child molester”?

imsufferableninja@sh.itjust.works · 27 pts · 166d (4 replies)

Because job title in America is the most important thing about someone

Randomgal@lemmy.ca · 12 pts · 166d (3 replies)

It's how much money you have. You can often figure it out from their title.

imsufferableninja@sh.itjust.works · 12 pts · 166d (2 replies)

The only thing people want to talk about at social gatherings is work. When meeting new people, I ask "what are your hobbies" or "what do you like to do" and either they misunderstand and talk about their job or talk briefly about other things and then immediately shift to work.

somethingsnappy@lemmy.world · 6 pts · 166d

Find new people.

SabinStargem@lemmy.today · 1 pts · 166d

Personally, I am guessing that the topic of work is considered a safe subject of one's existence. Most folks probably don't relate to each other, considering the breadth of hobbies and interests people have. I like Fantasy Maiden Wars, prefer UC Gundam without Newtype woo, and enjoy reading hentai manga. Methinks most people would be irritated, disinterested, or horrified by my existence.

We don't live in a world of local isolation. We can absorb cultures and ideas far from home, by choice, instead of being dyed by the people who live nearby. This is good and bad: we have the freedom to become our truer selves, but that also means we aren't forced to become incidental friends with people in meatspace.

WanderWisley@lemmy.world · 28 pts · 166d

Not a democrat, not a member of the LGBTQ committee, not an immigrant, not a trans athlete, not a black person, just good ol fashioned classic republican.

victorz@lemmy.world · 21 pts · 166d (6 replies)

Molesting kids? Sounds like another pardon is about to drop for him! Because the government condones that shit 🥰

Brickhead92@lemmy.world · 8 pts · 166d

This man need to be in charge of a government department!

ameancow@lemmy.world · 5 pts · 166d (4 replies)
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TrollTrollrolllol@lemmy.world · 5 pts · 166d (3 replies)

In Florida - I can see DeSatanist pardoning him at the behest of the orange turd.

ameancow@lemmy.world · 4 pts · 166d (1 reply)
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CharlesDarwin@lemmy.world · 1 pts · 166d

Polis - supposedly a Democratic governor in a blue state - is thinking about releasing Tina Peters, which some outlets have taken to calling an "election denier", instead of someone that was trying to steal an election and who assaulted a police officer.

CharlesDarwin@lemmy.world · 2 pts · 166d

Apparently Jared here in Colorado is considering releasing that bitch Tina Peter, who was trying to steal an election and who assaulted a police officer. And this is a blue state, so....that pressure/influence must work.

She has not shown any remorse at all, and considers herself some kind of hero for the cause. I seriously saw a "free Tina Peters" hanging up on a building here in Colorado, so people like that would consider their feelings validated by such a move.

somtwo@lemmy.world · 18 pts · 166d

GOP: Group Of Pedophiles

favoredponcho@lemmy.zip · 18 pts · 166d
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pubquiz@lemmy.world · 14 pts · 166d (3 replies)
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frongt@lemmy.zip · 3 pts · 166d (1 reply)

He is not being offered a pardon for this.

A_norny_mousse@piefed.zip · 1 pts · 166d

That's just a question of money.

Tollana1234567@lemmy.today · 0 pts · 166d

that is why the voters love trump, because they themselves are Sa-ERS, or support it.

Jaysyn@lemmy.world · 14 pts · 166d

The GOP are pedos all the way down.

SLVRDRGN@lemmy.world · 12 pts · 166d (5 replies)

Can someone tell me why the American Right made such a big deal about Biden "sniffing" and yet turn a blind eye to all this from the GOP?

Ookami38@sh.itjust.works · 12 pts · 166d

Oh, simple. It's never about the issue, it's about the opposition.

TrollTrollrolllol@lemmy.world · 5 pts · 166d

Conservatism consists of exactly one proposition, to wit: There must be in-groups whom the law protects but does not bind, alongside out-groups whom the law binds but does not protect. -Frank Wilhoit

Paranoidfactoid@lemmy.world · 5 pts · 166d (1 reply)

The Biden pedo stuff was pure bullshit. Just like Pizzagate. This, however, is real. Like, actual convictions real. They were projecting all along.

TrollTrollrolllol@lemmy.world · 1 pts · 166d
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maplesaga@lemmy.world · 2 pts · 166d

Hyperpartisanization, people seek echo chambers. So news targets those people and the donors and advertisers align to maximize profits.

If you look at the left leaning news they are putting out information that makes Trump seem senile or sick, just as Fox News did to Biden.

We are all being propagandized for money, and what's the solution, anonymous ad networks and only passive etf can own news stations? I really have no idea.

Formfiller@lemmy.world · 12 pts · 166d

That’s on brand

6stringringer@lemmy.zip · 10 pts · 166d

Not trying to be disrespectful towards any community. But I really feel compelled by the holy spirit RN! I have a deep and burning desire to ask this one question. Was he by chance a drag queen?

CharlesDarwin@lemmy.world · 10 pts · 166d

Andrew Paul Johnson, 45, is among several Jan. 6 defendants who have been charged with new crimes since Trump’s sweeping act of clemency for Capitol rioters.

Also, FFS, the MSM needs to stop referring to these terrorists as "rioters".

GreenBeanMachine@lemmy.world · 9 pts · 166d (2 replies)
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Vlyn@lemmy.zip · 5 pts · 166d (1 reply)

You mean a government position? I can't even add an /s here, the guy could actually end up the next secretary of defense or whatever.

bridgeburner@lemmy.world · 3 pts · 166d

AKSHUALLY, it is Secretary of War now. /j

Redvenom@retrolemmy.com · 9 pts · 166d

Being a pedo is a pre-requirement for this guys?

Danarchy@lemmy.nz · 9 pts · 166d (1 reply)

MAGA gonna fuck kids one way or the other

bender223@lemmy.today · 4 pts · 166d

their slogan should be "fuck them kids!"

zenitsu@sh.itjust.works · 8 pts · 166d

He qualifies for a position in the administration now

ruuster13@lemmy.zip · 8 pts · 166d

Hm. Didn't realize that was even frowned upon in Florida.

neukenindekeuken@sh.itjust.works · 7 pts · 166d

Only the best people.

Paranoidfactoid@lemmy.world · 7 pts · 166d

Hope that was a state conviction...

CharlesDarwin@lemmy.world · 6 pts · 166d

Cases like this are what Democrats need to have on the very tip of their tongue when monsters like Noem and Blondi and MTG start up with their bullshit narratives where they have one case of an immigrant doing something awful.

Democrats need to counter with something like: "well, while we are talking about crime, why did your boss pardon a PEDOPHILE, (Pam/Kristi)? That's what we should really be talking about."

PEDOnald released these pedophiles. Ask them WHY. Every single time they imply that immigrants commit crimes at higher rates than citizens in an effort to distract from things like releasing the Donald-Epstein files.

bender223@lemmy.today · 6 pts · 166d

It takes one to know one. 🤣

AnUnusualRelic@lemmy.world · 5 pts · 166d

They let you do that when you're rich and famous!

What do you mean I'm not rich and famous? Hey! Let me go!

JenitalJouster@lemmy.zip · 5 pts · 166d

there has to be something going on like the moment you vote red do you just become a pedo? this is what the millionth time atp??

Thedogdrinkscoffee@lemmy.ca · 3 pts · 166d

Is this my two minutes hate?

JoMiran@lemmy.ml · 3 pts · 166d

O.T.B.

Only
The
Best

Lushed_Lungfish@lemmy.ca · 2 pts · 166d

Now THIS is a drag queen, yes?

SabinStargem@lemmy.today · 1 pts · 166d (5 replies)

Why is this person only being given a life sentence, instead of death? I can't imagine a rapist being someone we ever want as a member of society.

bobzer@lemmy.zip · 18 pts · 166d (3 replies)
  • Giving the state the power to kill it's citizens never ends well for democracy
  • Many people are exonerated after being convicted. How many innocent lives is revenge worth?
  • Is your ideal justice system punitive?

The list goes on and on

yabbadabaddon@lemmy.zip · 12 pts · 166d (2 replies)

Also, if criminals know they will be killed when caught, they have a decent incentive to not get caught alive.

uienia@lemmy.world · 7 pts · 166d (1 reply)

And much more of an incentive to kill their victims as well.

Olhonestjim@lemmy.world · 4 pts · 166d

Crap, that's actually a good argument against the death penalty for corrupt politicians and the filthy rich as well.

lastlybutfirstly@lemmy.world · 2 pts · 166d

From my understanding, the situation is statutory rape. An 18 year old senior with a freshman girlfriend is a statutory rapist. A life sentence is pretty stiff already.

lechekaflan@lemmy.world · 1 pts · 166d

Now he's cooked, bastard should never drop this. Prisoners hates peds.

criss_cross@lemmy.world · 1 pts · 166d

In Florida? You’d think he’d be king there.

Must not be rich enough.